The Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has given legal status to workers who have left their old employers, making the rules for changing employers more flexible.
What you should know
The Saudi government has implemented a new rule that allows workers who are 'absent from work' to work with a new employer (sponsor) after leaving their old employer.
The Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has given legal status to workers who have left their old employers by making the rules for changing employers more flexible. Now the workers who have lost their legal status will get legal status again. This arrangement has been implemented through Kiva (Saudi online platform) from 18 September 2025 .
According to the Ministry of Human Resources, this rule aims to protect workers' contractual rights, make Saudi Arabia's labor market attractive and ensure compliance with labor regulations.
According to this rule, three types of workers who are absent from work will be allowed to change their employer . In which he was 'absent from work' and got a grace period of 60 days, There are workers whose contract period has expired or whose contract has been broken and whose absenteeism report has been registered before 18 September 2025.
has two conditions for this . in which the new employer Commitment to pay all the fees required to apply for a labor permit. Those workers must have worked continuously in Saudi Arabia for at least 12 months before leaving the previous job or before the contract period expired.
According to the Ministry of Human Resources, this rule has come as a part of continuous efforts to improve the labor market. According to the Ministry of Human Resources, this will provide a fair solution for both employers and workers, encourage compliance with the rules and create a more competitive work environment for the Saudi Arabian labor market.
In Saudi, they don't get regular salary, get low salary and leave the company due to lack of working environment. The Nepali workers working in Saudi Arabia have been saying that it will be very difficult for the workers to follow Saudi rules in practice.
Human rights organizations have been seriously criticizing the death rate of workers working in Saudi Arabia's big projects, excessive working hours, and unsafe working conditions. Saudi Arabia has questioned the report published by international human rights activists, claiming that it has made extensive reforms in the labor market to ensure labor security, women's rights, and the employment of local citizens.
Saudi Arabia and the International Labor Organization (ILO) are collaborating to implement a program of "limited labor reform".
There are currently four lakh Nepalis working in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is increasing the quota of Nepali workers after Covid.
